I was framed in Naqeebullah murder case due to partisanship in police, claims Rao Anwar

KARACHI: Following the shuffle of Inspector General of Police, former SSP Malir Rao Anwar, on Thursday claimed that he has been falsely incriminated in the murder case of Naqeebullah Mehsud owing to professional jealousy.

While speaking to journalists outside the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi, where he appeared for the hearing of murder case, Rao stressed that records are available that he neither caught Naqeebullah nor killed him and there is no evidence which can prove him guilty.

“I have previously survived two suicide attacks; several terrorist outfits have given me serious threats, therefore, declaring my home a sub jail is not any favor,” he stated.

The main accused in the case, Rao Anwar, also alleged that a wrong phone number of him was given in Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report. Rao mentioned that records of the phone number cited in the report show that it was used in Karachi on March 21, while he was in Islamabad for a Supreme Court hearing on the said date.

“I have been nominated in the wrong case,” Rao reiterated.

The legal counsel representing Naqeebullah’s father Khan Muhammad failed to appear for today’s hearing. The court gave Khan Muhammad a final chance to present his arguments in next hearing; otherwise a decision will be announced on the bail plea of Rao Anwar in accordance to law.

The hearing was then adjourned till July 4.

Rao Anwar and 11 of his subordinates are accused of killing Naqeebullah, a shopkeeper and an aspiring model, and three others during a fake encounter in Karachi’s Malir area earlier in the year.